Ethnic Conflicts : Ramifications of Ethnocentrism
A regional context

Dr S Birahari Singh *

Today, the people are well civilized. The world becomes very small but people can't see each other truly. Of course, they can't because their mental eyes are adorned with the magic goggles of ethnocentrism. Feuds between ethnic groups have substituted the wars between and among kingdoms and nation-states of the past centuries. Ethnic explosion is pervasive in the more educated contemporary world.

The rising trend of communal violence within countries and regions since the end of Cold War has been reported in the "Human Security Report 2005: War and Peace in the 21st Century". This is also not an exception in the case of India, particularly in the northeastern part of the country.

In this context, the general notion that education broadens man's outlook seems to have become a fallacy. Despite persistent efforts for universalisation of education, it is postulated, ethnocentrism cannot be sublimited. Ramifications of this psycho-socio-cultural concept can be discerned in the phenomena of a number of ethnic conflicts.

In modern India states were organized on ethnic and linguistic lines so as to fulfill the aspirations of a number of ethnic and linguistic groups. Didn't the Government of India create Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand states on ethnic lines?

Even then ethnic and communal crises were not extinct. They have got very popular and new terms such as "Identity assertion", "Ethno-nationalism movement", "Freedom movement", "Self-determination movement", and "Homeland demand" which invite attention from all quarters.

In this context, the writer has got an underpinning from Dr. Prasenjit Biswas and Mr. Chandan Suklabaidya's proposition -- "The phenomenal rise and growth of various indentities in North-East India presents a picture of the possibilities of multiple emergences of identities with many distinct claims". About 24 groups of tribal people have been inhabiting in Arunachal Pradesh along with other Indian communities.

It had, according to the 2001 Census Report, general literacy percentage of 54.3%. Here movement against outsiders got under way as an impact of Assam Agitation. Interestingly, students have become apprehensive of the outsiders' enchroachment to their rights and privileges. Natives of this state are at loggerheads with the Assamese also. Militant outfits are also reported to have held sway very recently.

About 23 groups of tribal people have been inhabiting in the state of Assam along with the Hindu and the Muslim communities. The state witnessed students' agitation (known as Assam Agitation) against foreigners or outsiders even though it had, according to the census report cited above, general literacy percentage of 63.3%.

United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has been fighting against alleged outsiders rule or Indian rule. Besides, it (Assam) has the burning problems of Bodos, Karbis and Dimasas who are fighting for autonomy or independence or homeland with backup from their armed rebel outfits.

As it is written by Professor Myron Weiner in his book, Sons of the Soil, Cachar, the Bengali-majority southern district of Assam is still with it (Assam) though there were proposals to merge Cachar with the predominantly Bengali state of Tripura. However, there is report of nascent movement for creation of a Barak valley state. Over and above all these, the two states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have land disputes along the border.

Manipur has been populated by about 30 tribal groups of people together with the Meiteis and the Muslims. It had, according to the report referred to, general literacy percentage of 66.00%. It also experienced students' "Go back Foreigners" movement. Several armed outfits have been fighting against alleged outsiders rule or Indian rule.

It also witnessed conflicts between Muslims and Meities, Kukis and Nagas, and Paites and Nagas. In addition, it felt the menace of NSCN (IM)'s demand for unification of Naga (a conglomeration of tribes) inhabited areas of Manipur with Nagaland. Meghalaya, a predominantly tribal and Christain state, has about 22 tribal groups in its population. It had, according to the report cited, general literacy percentage of 62.6%.

It also had experienced agitation against foreigners or outsiders led particularly by the students. Khasis and Garos are also not in good terms as recent tensions showed. They also have armed rebel outfits like ANVC, GNLF and HNLF/HNLC who are struggling for independence or self-determination. The state also has land dispute with Assam. Like Meghalaya, Mizoram is a predominantly tribal and Christain state.

It has about 13 groups of tribal people in its population. It has, according to the report cited, general literacy percentage of 88.8% which is highest in the northeastern states of India.It had the MNF's armed struggle against Indian or outsiders rule. It is having Reangs movement against Mizos and problem of Chakmas also. There were instances of having high tension between the Mizos of the state and the Bengalis, the majority community in Assam's Cachar district which is gateway of the Mizos of Mizoram.

About 13 groups of tribal people have been inhabiting in the predominantly tribal and Christain state of Nagaland. It had, according to report cited, general literacy percentage of 66.6%. It has been experiencing long staggering freedom movement spearheaded by late Mr. Phizo and later by the Khaplang and Muivah factions of the NSCN. It has also two other rebel outfits.

Over and above, the Nagas are at loggerheads with the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur because of their demand for greater Nagalim. Tripura has been populated by about 19 groups of tribal and indigenous people along with the Bengalis. The state of Tripura had, according to the report referred to, general literacy percentage of 73.2%. It has been experiencing the armed struggle of the indigenous people against the alleged outsiders' domination or Indian domination.

They are not in good terms with the Bengalis who outnumbered them though they (Bengalis) are late settlers. The Bengalis, the late settlers also have, as it is reported, armed outfit to counter the violence meted out to them.

In the northeast India there has been remarkable improvement in transport and communication system during the past 25/30 years. All the state capitals are easily accessible. Nevertheless, the peoples of the states seem to have less intimacy. Number of daily newspapers published in the seven state capitals is considerably large.

There is easy reach of information to literate peoples of the states. Unfortunately, they seem to have less understanding between and among them. In this context, a proposition (African Professor, Francis B. Nyamnjoh's proposition) - "Intensified globalization, in Africa as elsewhere, is marked by accelerated flows and, paradoxically, accelerated closures.

The rhetoric of free flows and dissolving boundaries is countered by the intensifying reality of borders, divisions and violent strategies of exclusion". comes to the recollection of the present writer's mind. Tensions and conflicts are pervasive in northeast India. The natives' aversion towards the outsiders is exposed in the murder of Hindi speaking people in Assam and Manipur, and in alleged quit notices reported to have been served to non-Nagas and non- Khasis in Nagaland and Meghalaya. Such things were not so much rampant during 2/3 decades after independence.

Lastly, it can be said that the northeast people are in conflict between and among themselves and they are also struggling against the alleged domination of the outsiders what Prof. S.K. Sharma called the "majority wielding economic and political power". Such phenomena in the social environment of the northeastern states can be studied against the backdrop of two propositions :

1. "The biggest challenge, thus faced by the human society today is the rising ethnocentrism, ethnic consciousness and identity assertion (through coercive means) by the majority wielding economic and political power on the one hand and the relentless efforts of the ethnic, social and immigrant minorities to resist the onslaught of majority voicing their demand for autonomy, and right to self-determination on the other". given by Prof. S.K. Sharma in his book, Multiculturalism and Ethnicity in Global context; and
2. "Sensing the advantage of ethnocentrism or nationalism for themselves and for the group, militarily, administratively, and otherwise, group leaders frequently act to increase group ethnocentrism and nationalism, often through opportunistic exploitation of fear or hate of some outgroup". given by P.C. Rosenblatt in Journal of Conflict Resolution.